Half-Blood

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of physical abuse, emotional abuse, violence, substance use, and addiction.

Half-Blood establishes the foundation for Alex’s journey of self-discovery and her search for belonging within the Covenant series. Initially, Alex’s self-perception is rooted in the limited categories imposed by the Covenant’s hierarchy, rendering her a “freakish” half-blood. Through the events of Half-Blood, Jennifer L. Armentrout challenges this simplistic view, compelling Alex to confront her own identity, navigate the complexities of her social position, and recognize the extent of her inherent power.

From the start, Alex grapples with feelings of displacement. Half-bloods like her exist in a liminal space within Hematoi society, unable to live freely like pure-bloods yet trained only to serve them as Sentinels, Guards, or servants. Alex’s mother removed her to the mortal world, allowing Alex to experience an existence outside its restrictions, but this only exacerbates her sense of not belonging. When Alex returns to the Covenant, she struggles to reintegrate. The Covenant administration views Alex as a rule-breaker and an outsider, and her impulsive nature often isolates her further. Alex’s attempts to fit in—whether through her training, interactions with Aiden, or loyalty to Caleb—reveal her deep yearning for acceptance and purpose.